“SKUD DIE BOOM IN DIE NAAM VAN JESUS CHRISTUS”

Pieter was besig om sy goed in sy kar te pak, toe a jong meisie sy aandag trek. “Meneer, meneer!” het sy geroep. Haar gesig was rooi gehuil. Hy het omgedraai en gewonder wat haar so ontstel het. “Meneer,” sê sy weer en probeer haar asem terugkry.

Pieter kon sien dat sy baie hartseer was. “Meneer, het vanoggend gesê dat ons deel van Jesus se liggaam is en ons moet sy hande en voete wees,” sy begin weer huil, “m-m-maaar, ek, ek het alreeds so baie dinge probeer, en, en ek weet steeds nie of ek die regte ding doen nie!”

Hy kyk haar in haar oë en sê, “Gaan skud daai boom in die naam van Jesus Christus!”

Haar bruin oë word groter van verbasing, “Wat het meneer gesê?” vra sy met ongeloof.

“Gaan skud daai boom in die naam van Jesus Christus.”

“Maar meneer, ek kannie dit doen nie…”

Pieter glimlag. Hy het dit verwag, “Maar dan is jou probleem opgelos ! Jy doen sekere dinge nie, omdat jy nie weet wat in die Woord staan nie en jy is te besig om die antwoord self te vind. Jy dink dat jy nie dinge vir die Here kan doen nie.”

Sy kyk hom aan asof hy ‘n lig in haar aangesteek het, en hy praat verder, “God het vir ons gesê dat ons na die weduwee’s moet kyk, die siekes gesond maak en vissers van mense moet wees. Ons moet dinge doen, sonder om twee keer daaroor te dink. Jy is miskien die enigiste Bybel wat sommige mense sal lees, weet jy?”

“Meneer is reg sê sy,” en sy loop na die boom en skud dit in die naam van Jesus Christus. Pieter glimlag weer en dank die Here dat nog iemand wakker geskud is.

How many times do you see a beggar on the side of the road or a child without lunch at school? How many times do you notice your colleague’s down turned face?

Do you ever wish that you could do something great for God’s kingdom? Sometimes doing something that is not a lot of effort for us, is a great gesture. Have you ever been upset with yourself or even God for not doing something? I believe in ceasing the moment, take every opportunity that comes your way to spread Jesus’s love. Remember, actions speak louder than words. 

Do you call out in frustration to God because you don’t think He’s talking to you, but in actual fact you are not listening?

Sometimes we need to be shaken to realise that YHVH is actually speaking to us. He speaks to us all the time; we just need to tune in our spiritual ears.

Did you know that when we physically hear, we are actually using muscles? The more we concentrate on listening, the stronger our muscles will become and the better listeners we will be. The same applies to our spiritual ears. Are they trained to hear what God is saying? We don’t always hear Him audibly, but He does talk to us: through our hearts, scripture, other Christians, situations and consequences. The more we practice listening the better we become at it. The easiest way to know whether it is Him or not, is to measure it up with scripture. If the two match, then you know it’s Him. However, if they are far off, then be weary, usually when it doesn’t point to Jesus or make you want to praise Him, stay away!

So many times we express to God that we have a burning desire to serve, but we don’t know what to do. God gave us that burning desire, so don’t hose it down or think that it is abnormal. He also gave us passions, a clear mind (2 Tim 1:7) to think and His word to guide us. He tells us to help the orphans, widows and poor, to heal the sick, make disciples, and to love others like us [we are sinners, so love other sinners]. When was the last time that we did that, instead of feeling sorry for them and ourselves?

So, use your passions and talents, be guided by Scripture and spread His love in any way you can. Do something spontaneous, take a calculated risk. Show your love for your neighbour. Let’s not get caught up in the rush of everyday and forget to “skud die boom in die naam van Jesus Christus”. Sometimes, we should “think” less and act more!